Published 5:30 am, Monday, May 8, 2006

McGuffie, who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for Cy-Fair's football team, would like to surpass that mark as he squares off against seven of the state's top long jumpers in Saturday's Class 5A state meet in Austin.

"It is going to take a 24-footer at state, something like that," McGuffie said. "It might take close to 25.

"I just have to concentrate on my speed and my height. If I get more height, I think I definitely will pop a long one."

"There are a lot of good jumpers (in the state)," Reese said. "But I certainly like his chances."

McGuffie spent most of the track season trying to decide which event he was going to do next.

"Coach had me doing a number of different things throughout the season," McGuffie said. "I did the long jump, triple jump, 110 hurdles, 4x400 relay. Wesley (Bray) and I did whatever the coach wanted us to do to score points."

Reese said if he could combine Bray and McGuffie, he would have a perfect long jumper. Bray also had a couple of jumps over 23 feet this season.

"Wesley gets the height and I get the speed," said McGuffie. "If we could combine both of us, I am sure we would win state."

McGuffie, who has been clocked in 4.3 seconds in 40 yards, said he prefers football over track.

"Football is more up-tempo," he said. "You can either win or lose for your team. You can make big plays that win the game for your team."

McGuffie, who also has run a 48-plus second quarter-mile, said this trip to state is only the start of his track career.

"This is my first time going, but it won't be my last," he said. "This is just my introduction. I went to state last year as an alternate on our 4x400 relay team. I told coach that I would be coming back again this year to compete. Now, here I am."

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound dual-sport start is a little disappointed Cy-Fair did not qualify a relay team to the state meet.

"I feel bad for the seniors," he said. "But I am only a sophomore. It's not like I won't have another chance."

McGuffie, whose favorite subject is science, said he started playing football in the fourth grade and running track in the sixth grade.

"I started out playing quarterback," he said. "Then I went to running back, linebacker and safety. It doesn't matter as long as I am not a lineman. I am not big enough to play on the line."

McGuffie said he would like to play football and run track in college.

"Right now, I just like to work out and run. I am not a normal kid," McGuffie said. "I just like to do sports. I stay away from the girls. There is plenty of time for that later.

"I want to play football in college so bad. That is all I think about. I want to make someone's team good. I think I have so much more potential in football and track. I just have to keep progressing."